Question 6
(a) Draw an outline map of Nigeria.
On the map, locate and name:
(i) two areas of high population density;
(ii) three towns in the areas shown in 6 (a) (i).
(b) Outline four reasons for which any of the three towns shown in 6(a) (ii) has high population density.
(c) Highlight two problems caused by high population density.
Observation
The question was popular among the candidates and they performed well except for the map work which proved difficult to some of the candidates. The reasons for high population density which some of the candidates gave included:
- favourable climate
- natural attachment to land
- historical factors
- administrative headquarters
- employment opportunities
- sports facilities
- accessibility/good transport network
- educational facilities
- fertile soil/land for agriculture
- presence of minerals
- presence of industries
- commercial activities
- presence of social amenities
- presence of infrastructural services
- migration
The problems caused by high population density which some of the candidates gave included:
- pressure on natural resources
- increase in crime rate e.g. armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, etc
- insufficient food/high cost of food
- inadequate portable water
- overcrowding
- increase in government expenditure
- high dependency ratio
- high cost of living/inflation
- easy spread of diseases e.g. tuberculosis
- unemployment/underemployment
- inadequate housing
- traffic congestion
- environmental pollution/degradation
- pressure on social amenities
- development of slump/ghettos/shanti towns
- easy spread of pest e.g. lice, bed bugs
- increase in social vices e.g. prostitution, gambling, pick-pocketing
- pressure on infrastructural facilities
- high cost of land
- waste management problems